10 dead, seven injured in Oyo building collapse

Ten bodies have been recovered from the rubble of a collapsed building in the Jegede, Olunloyo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, while several others sustained injuries. The tragic incident occurred early Thursday, prompting a swift response from emergency services. The General Manager of Oyo State Fire Service, Yemi Akinyinka, stated that the agency received a distress call from local residents around 2 a.m., alerting them to the collapse. “As of this morning, 10 persons have been recovered from the debris, while seven individuals were rescued alive,” Akinyinka reported. Rescue efforts remain ongoing as emergency responders continue to search for potential survivors. The police confirmed the incident in a separate statement, assuring the public that security measures have been strengthened around the area to prevent unauthorized access and protect nearby residents and property. “Adequate security is currently in place to prevent hoodlums from taking over the scene and to protect lives and property,” the statement read. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collapse and the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

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Reps move to split Oyo State into two

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, passed for second reading, a bill seeking to create the New Oyo State with Oyo town as the Capital City. The bill was sponsored by Hon. Adeniyi Adeyemi and six other lawmakers. Leading the debate on the bill, Adeyemi, who observed that the bill was not new to the parliament. He recalled that the bill was successfully passed in the Second Republic by both chambers (National Assembly) awaiting the presidential asset before military takeover. Adeyemi explained that the  National Assembly in 1983 successfully passed a motion on the creation of New Oyo State with Oyo Town as its Capital. (See National Assembly Debates (Senate) Official Report. Volume 2. No. 24 of Wednesday 23” February, 1983). “The 2014 National Conference held in Abuja also recommended in its final report for the creation of New Oyo State with Oyo town as its capital.  “This is stated in volume II page 708 of the report, It’s noteworthy that present Oyo State deserves to be split into two being the largest state in terms of landmass in the South-West geopolitical zone with thirty-three Local Governments and it has a population of 5,580,894 people (2006 census). 

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Obasanjo was behind my impeachment -Ladoja reveals

The former Oyo State Governor, Rashidi Ladoja, has revealed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo masterminded his removal from office.  In a recent interview on Fresh FM to celebrate his 80th birthday, Ladoja revealed that Obasanjo was the powerful force responsible for his impeachment, contrary to popular belief that it was orchestrated by the late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu and his then-deputy, late Adebayo Alao-Akala. “You see, some people said it was Akala, it was Adedibu. No, it was not any of them. It was Obasanjo.  “It was during the time of Ileya (Muslim festival Eid-el-Kabi). We went to see Baba Obasanjo. I think it was on a Friday or Saturday that we went to see him in Abeokuta. I was there with Oyinlola, Daniel and Agagu. Ladoja said he, along with other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, including Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and Dr. Segun Agagu, had pleaded with Obasanjo in Abeokuta to halt the impeachment plans.  This revelation sheds new light on the events surrounding Ladoja’s impeachment in 2006. “We did not call Fayose, because we knew that Fayose was Baba’s son. So they knelt down and I knelt down with them. They were begging him, ‘Baba, please, let Ladoja be.’ “Baba then said ‘Rashidi, go and resign!’ I said ‘No, I won’t resign!’ He said, ‘If you don’t resign, you would be removed’. “I said ‘No, they cannot do it.’ He asked ‘why?’ I said ‘because you cannot get two-thirds. He said ‘two-thirds my foot’ and then he left the place in fury. Daniel ran after him.” Oba Ladoja added: ”While we were reflecting on what we were going to do, myself, Agagu and Oyinlola, a man came in, it was the former World Court Justice Bola Ajibola. “He said ‘what is wrong with you?’’ He said: “I know your problem. Your problem is that you don’t want Ladoja to be impeached. They, Oyinlola, Agagau and Daniel said yes. Justice Ajibola said ‘well, I’ve talked about it to Segun, he’s just adamant. He said ‘but you’re leaders in your own rights. There comes a time when you must have to stand up and fight.” Oba Ladoja maintained: “ Then he told us the story of ‘Jafitafita.’ The story of ‘Jafitafita’ is simple. It is about tortoise and his wife, yannibo.” “I must put it on record that Prince Ajibola did wonderfully for us because he told us exactly what to do and we “jafitafita. When eventually we got the judgement of the Appeal Court. Baba said no. People said this is a declarative judgement, he said they are going to stay its execution. And eventually, it stayed until the Supreme Court confirmed the judgement of the Court of Appeal.” It’s worth noting that Ladoja’s impeachment was a contentious issue, with the Oyo State legislators voting him out of office on January 12, 2006.  However, the Appeal Court later declared the impeachment null and illegal, and Ladoja was reinstated on December 7, 2006.

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